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There are few times when listening to a CD sends
me into giggling state, with the exception of Bloodhound
Gang. But after playing in the back up band for
Avril Lavigne with Butch Walker, American
Hi-Fi probably had a lot of material and
a reason to make us laugh. Or maybe that wasn’t
their intension at all. But I guess humor is the
in the ear of the beholder.
With Weezer lightheartedness and a bit of piss
and vinegar, American Hi-Fi is pure pop through
and through. And it’s no wonder, just taking
a look at the resume of lead vocalist and songwriter,
Stacy Jones. He’s got a
trail of who’s who woman musicians from
his drumming past – from Tanya Donnely (Throwing
Muses, Belly) and Aimee Mann, to the Letters To
Cleo and Veruca Salt – but is now in the
leading role.
Based now in Hollywood it seems the group has
absorbed a bit of their scenery: the summer night
cruising to the club on a Saturday night, the
rush of faceless creatures as you stroll down
the boulevard, and the invisible shield everyone
dons before they leave the house. Their song’s
tones have a heavy leaning towards celebration
and dance floor happiness. But there are also
times of reflection; taking a stark look at the
superficial lifestyle and the search “for
something real” in SoCal in particular,
but a search that could be applied to many towns
across the country, and is as timely as the new
movie Crash.
Jones states in his bio (which he wrote himself,
a first if I’ve ever seen one) that he wears
his heart on his sleeve when it comes to penning
songs. Now he’s rallied his band buddies
into putting their Hearts on Parade
for everyone to hear. It’s taken him some
time to get here, but I think he’s on his
way to forging his own path now.
www.americanhi-fi.com
Kim Owens, May 13, 2005
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